LUCEA, Hanover – Young’s Daycare and Preschool in Hanover recently won the 2022 Hanover Parish Library Early Childhood Quiz Competition, which had not been held since 2020, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Eleven schools from across the parish entered the competition.

It was a proud moment for the three-time champion teacher Michelle Gooden and her students, who had won the competition, which started in 2015, in 2017 and 2018.

“I am very, very elated. When we look back at what COVID has done and most of the children were out of schoolwork — they weren’t getting any teaching/learning. Most of them were not online and since the resumption of face-to-face classes, we have worked with these children and I’m so happy that they have worked so hard and now they are the winner of the Hanover Parish Library quiz competition,” said an elated Gooden.

The teacher at the 15-year-old school, which has three teachers and 34 students, noted that preparing the children was difficult.

“The preparation was a bit difficult because you know these children mostly use the tablets. So, I remember showing them a picture of the prime minister (Andrew Holness) and I asked them to look at the monitor and tell me who this is, and they didn’t know they were all staring at me. So, I’m saying, these children don’t watch TV, they’re mostly on their tablets. So, I started working from there and honestly, I am happy for them. I am happy for them because they have learned so much in such a short time,” said Gooden.

“I just want to say a big thank you to the Hanover Parish Library team for putting this competition together for the children and I want to say thanks to all the teachers and all the children who participated.”

Lucea Infant School, which entered the competition for the first time, was placed second in the quiz that was held at Hanover Parish Library in Lucea.

Lucea Infant School teacher Lavern Campbell Fernandez noted that the school is happy with its runner-up position, despite aiming for first place.

“We practised and we prepared. We were working for the top but we fell short and we came second and we are so grateful. We just want to thank God that we were able to prepare the children and they were able to put their best foot forward and we came second and we are feeling proud of our achievement,” expressed Fernandez.

“We are looking forward to next year’s competition. I would just like to say thanks to the Jamaica Library Service for putting on the competition so the children can put their best foot forward and I hope the competition will continue,” added the teacher of the institution that has a population of approximately 220 students.

Both teams received trophies, gift baskets and medals. Besides, the winning team received tablet devices and members of the second place team were presented with knapsacks.

The competition was sponsored by 34 individuals/companies, including Sandals Negril.